With a full week to spend in Prague, I had plenty of time for a day trip to see more of the Czech Republic. My destination of choice was the Kutna Hora Bone Church, an unusual attraction famous for its skeletal decorations. Creepy as it might sound, I found the macabre display to be surprisingly […]
Day Trip
Rundale Palace: The Versailles of Latvia
Rundale Palace was the lavish summer residence of the Dukes of Courland. The Duchy existed from 1561 until 1795 and was located in the western half of Latvia. Its original seat of power was located in Bauska until the castle and manor house were destroyed during the Great Northern War. The new palace was built […]
Relaxing by the Baltic Sea in Jurmala, Latvia
Summer weather in Latvia can be surprisingly warm given its Northern European location. Come July, locals flock to the Baltic Sea shore in droves. One of Latvia’s best beaches, Jurmala, features thirty-two kilometers of pristine white sand and tranquil blue water. What began as a collection of humble farming villages has become the premier beach […]
Longwood Gardens: A Botanical Wonderland in Pennsylvania
Visiting a friend in Pennsylvania in late April, we took advantage of the warm spring weather to explore Longwood Gardens. I had only recently learned of these gardens, and while I knew they’d be full of springtime loveliness, I wasn’t prepared for the dazzling beauty we found. What began as a 400-acre farmstead for the Pierce family […]
Drinking Bulls Blood Wine in Eger, Hungary
Imagine you are a Turkish soldier in the year 1552. You and 40,000 of your fellow warriors have been marauding across Europe, gleefully sacking towns and declaring victory for the Ottoman Empire. When you reach the gates of Eger, Hungary, you are expecting another easy win. Your large force lays siege to a castle defended […]